Apparatus for distributing a strand into coil form



March 22, 1960 APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING A STRAND INTO COIL FORM FiledAug. 25, 1958 E O O 2 O U IJ a. v;

VARIABLE SPEED MOTOR G. E. HENNING 2,929,576

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTOR. G. E. HAWAII/V6 BY iii/ March 22, 1960 e. E. HENNING 2,929,576

APPARA'I-US FOR DISTRIBUTING A STRAND INTO con FORM Filed Aug. 25. 19585 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. G. E. HfNN/NG ATTORNEY March 22, 1960 G. E.HENNING 2,

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING A STRAND INTO COIL FORM Filed Aug. 25, 1958 5Sheets-Sheet 3 a: 5 5 FIG. 30%) FIG. 3(8) 3 sPszo or SHEAVE ASSEMBLY-,cou. 3 FIG. 3(a) I! 8 7s s zso or MEAN CAPSTAN s2 o E U 50 MIN.

a 2 FIG. 3(0) u no. em 293 EQ'E Q SPEED OF 2 0 mm; GEAR ace 0 E 25CLOSED F F) z 1, t t t l6. 3 '5 E TIME; 3 OPEN STATE or 120 2 t t SWITCH0 TIME 34: J1 Y FIGS. 3(4) 70 36) M I 331- I 332- l 336" 333; i

3 3 7 INVENTOR.

G. E. HENN/NG Al'iORA/EY March 22, 1960 e. E. HENNING 2,929,576

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING A STRAND INTO COIL FORM Filed Aug. 25, 1958 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. G E. HEN/V/NC BY GLQQ M W ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent RPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING A STRAND INTO COIL FORM GeorgeE. Henning, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company,Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationAugust 25, 1958, Serial No. 755,823

illaims. (Cl. 242-82) The present invention relates generally toapparatus for distributing a strand into coil form, and relates moreparticularly to apparatus for distributing a strand in a continuoussuccession of coils having varying radii.

This application is closely related to and is a continuation-in-part ofmy copending application Serial No. 509,209, filed May 18, 1955 andentitled Apparatus for Distributing Filamentary Material into Coil Form.

An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide apparatus fordistributing a strand into coil form.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for distributinga strand in a continuous succession of coils having varying radii.

A more s ecific object of the invention is to provide apparatus fordistributing a strand along a descending helical path having analternately increasing and decreasing radius for collection in acontainer in the form of a succession of coils having alternatelyincreasing and decreasing radii.

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements of thestrand-distributing apparatuses disclosed in my copending application,which improvements enable collection of the strand in a continuoussuccession of coils having alternately increasing and decreasing radii,while the coiling rate or throughput of the strand is maintainedconstant.

With these and other objects in view, an apparatus for distributing astrand into the form of a coil, illustrating certain features of theinvention, may include a rotatable capstan capable of discharging thestrand. Means are provided for causing the strand-discharge point (bywhich is meant those portions of the capstan which are last to contactthe strand) to revolve about the axis of the coil to be formed atvariable speeds so regulated that the strand is distributed along adescending helical path having a variable radius for collection in acontinuous succession of coils having varying radii. Means are providedfor rotating the capstan at speeds so synchronized with the speed ofrevolution of the strand-discharge point that the coiling rate ismaintained substantially constant.

The strand coils are preferably collected in a container mounted belowthe capstan. It is also preferable to revolve the discharge pointaccording to the cycle wherein the speed of revolution alternatelyincreases uniformly from a minimum speed to a maximum speed and thendecreases uniformly back to the minimum speed. With this arrangement,the strand is collected in the container in a succession of coils havingalternately increasing and decreasing radii.

In particular, the invention contemplates modifications of the structureillustrated in both embodiments of my copending application allowingrotation of the capstan at predetermined synchronized speeds designed tomaintain a constant coiling rate while the point of discharge of thestrand from the capstan is revolved at variable speeds.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of particular 2,9295% Patented Mar. 22,1960 embodiments thereof, when read in conjunction with the appendeddrawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a strand-distributing apparatusillustrating a first embodiment of the invention, with portions brokenaway for clarity, portions of Fig. 1 being generally similar to Fig. 1of my copending application;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken generally along the line 2-2 ofFig. 1 in the direction of the arrows, being generally similar to Fig. 2of my copending application;

Fig. 3(A) to 3(F) are graphs indicating the behavior of various factorswith respect to time, according to one illustrative example;

Fig. 4 is a schematic drawing of an electromechanical control means foroperating the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 so as to achieve the cycle ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of an apparatus illustrating a secondembodiment of the invention, with portions broken away for clarity,portions of Fig. 5 being substantially the same as illustrated in Fig. 4of my copending application, and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken generally along the line 6-6 ofFig. 5 in the direction of the arrows.

First embodiment Referring now in detail to the drawings, and inparticular to Figs. 1 and 2, a strand-distributing apparatus is shownwhich is generally similar to that disclosed in the first embodiment ofmy copending application, Figs. 1 and 2, but which includes certainmodifications and additional elements allowing operation in accordancewith the principles of this invention. For convenience, certain elementsforming a part of my copending application and common to thisapplication have been given the same numerals formerly applied; whereas,modified and additional elements forming a part of this invention onlyhave been given numerals starting with the numeral 301.

As in my copending application, a container such as an open-toppedbarrel 10 is provided to receive a strand 11, such as a bare Wire or aninsulated conductor, to be collected in a succession of coils occupyingan annular area between the inner periphery of the barrel 10 and theouter periphery of a cylindrical core 12 mounted at the center of thebarrel it. The barrel It is stationary throughout the operation and isshown in its correct strand-receiving position below a platform 15,which is supported above the floor on a plurality of vertical channelirons 16-16.

A rotatable, vertical, hollow shaft 17 is mounted for rotation in aninner pair of bearings 301-301 located near the center of the platform15, and the strand 11 is advanced therethrough by a capstan 52, from topto bottom as viewed in Fig. 1. The shaft 17 is rotated at preselectedvarying speeds (assumed to be in a counterclockwise direction as viewedin Fig. 2) by a variablespeed motor 302, through the intermission of agear box 303 and a sprocket-and-chain transmission designated generallyby the numeral BM. in my copending application, a constant-speed motorwas provided to rotate the shaft 17, that application contemplatingrotation at constant speed throughout the strand-distributing operationto distribute the strand 11 in a succession of coils having a constantradius.

A rotatable ring gear 356 is fixed to and depends from a supporting ring367, which in turn is mounted for rotation with respect to the platform15 by means of an outer bearing 39S and which is further mounted forindependent rotation with respect to the shaft 17 by means of the innerbearings 301-391. The ring 307 and thus the ring gear 306 connectedthereto are rotated by means of a second variable-speed motor 311,through the intermission of a second gear box 312 and a secondsprocket-and-chain transmission designated generally by the numeral 313.

The ring gear 306 is rotated by the motor 311 at varying speeds duringthe strand-distributing operation, which speeds are synchronized withthe rotational speedof the shaft 17 in order to operate-the apparatusin'accordance with the principles of this invention. In my copendingapplication, a fixed gear was provided in place of the rotatable gear306 to provide for distribution-of the strand 11 in coils having aconstant radius; whereas,

the combination of rotating the shaft 17 at varying speeds withrotatingthe gear 306 at synchronized, varying speeds allows distributionof the strand 11 in a succession of coils having alternately increasingand decreasing radii in order to provide more uniform collection of thestrand 11 in the annular area between the barrel ltl and the core 12.

The remaining structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is generallysimilar to that illustrated in my copending application, and allowsdistribution of the strand 11 in a descending helical path to form acoil in the barrel 10. The rotatable shaft 17 terminates with a threadedstub 31, to which a circular plate 32 is secured by a nut 33 forcounterclockwise rotation with the shaft 17, as viewed in Fig. 2. Aplurality of spur gears 35-35 are mounted to the upper side of the plate32 for rotation about their own axes and in meshing engagement with thering 4 cordance with the principles of my copending application; thatis, the ratio between the upper ring gear 306 and the upper spur gears35-35 is set at about 4:1 and that between the lower ring gear 55 andthe lower spur gears 41-41 is set at about 2:1. With this arrangement(assumingthat the upper ring gear 306 were stationary as in my copendingapplication), the lower ring gear 55 and the capstan 52 will rotate in aclockwise direction at precisely the same speed that the shaft 17, theupper plate 32, and the lower-plate 37 are rotated in a counterclockwisedirection by the motor 302.

A plurality of sheaves 56, 57 and 58 are mounted for rotation abouttheir own axes to the under surface of the lower plate 37 by suitablebearings 61-61, the sheaves being positioned adjacent to the peripheryof the capstan 52 at equally spaced intervals. An endless idler belt 62is wound around portions of the periphery of the sheaves 56, 57 and 53so that one side of the belt 62 engages a portion of the periphery ofthegrooved capstan 52, preferably about 180 of theperiphery. The strand11 is fed between the periphery of the capstan 52 and the belt 62 at apointnear the sheave 56 at the bottom of the Fig. 2, passes around theperiphery of gear 306, so that counterclockwise revolution of the spurgears -35 about the ring gear 306, when the plate 32 is rotated, causescounterclockwise rotation of the spur gears 35-35 about their own axes.'As illustrated in Fig. 1, a plurality of sleeves 36-36 are securedbetween the'under surface of the plate 32 and the upper surface ofasecond circular plate 37, which is thus constrained to rotate in acounterclockwise direction about the central axis of the apparatus withthe circular plate 32 and the shaft 17 at the variable speeds directedby the motor 302.

The sleeves 36-36 are located, one in axial align ment with each of thespur gears 35-35, and a plurality of rotatable shafts 40-40 are mountedwithin the sleeves 36-36, being secured at their upper ends to the spurgears 35-35 and at their lower ends to a second plurality of spurgears41-41. With this arrangement, the counterclockwise axial rotationinduced in theupper set of spur gears 35-35 as they revolve about'thering gear 306 is transmitted to the lower set of spur gears 41-41.

the capstan 52 through an arc of about 180,and is discharged into spaceat a point near the sheave 58 upon rotation of the capstan 52 in aclockwise direction as viewedin Fig.2. r

Since the sheaves 56, 57 and 58 and the belt 62, together constitutingthe sheave assembly, are carried by the rotating lowerplate 37, theyrevolve about the periphery of the capstan 52 in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 2 independentlyof the clockwise rotationimparted to the capstan 52 by. the lower spurgears 41-41. A first guidepulley 65 (Fig.1) is mounted for rotation about its own axis and'iscarried on the upper surface of the rotating plate 37 for revolutionabout the center of the apparatus. The pulley 65 isdesigned to receivethe strand 11 after it :passes through the hollow l of the apparatus.The pulley 66 is designed to receive A rod 42 having an upperthreaded-end 43 is secured A second ring gear 55 is secured to the uppersurface of the capstan 52 and meshes with the lower spur gears.

41-41, so that any rotation imparted to the ring gear 55 by the spurgears 41-41 is also imparted to'the capstan 52. The lower spur gears 41-41 revolve in a counterclockwise direction about the ring gear 55,since they are carried by the rotating plate 37.. This revolution wouldtend to rotate the ring gear 55 and thus the capstan 52 in acounterclockwise direction if the gears 41-41 did not also rotate abouttheir own axes. As the spur gears 41-41 rotate in a counterclockwisedirectron about their own axes, they would tend to rotate the ring gear55 and thus the capstan 52 in a clockwise direction. The net rotation ofthe capstan 52 is determined by difierence between the twooppositely-acting tendenc es just mentioned and is regulated by therelative gear ratios provided.

The relative gear ratios maybe set, generally, in ac The cup-- thestrand 11 from the pulley and to direct the strand toward the groovedcapstan 52 in a line generally tangent thereto and near the point ofcontact between the sheave 56 and the capstan 52.

Since the guide pulleys 65 and are both carried by the'rotating plate37, they will revolve aboutthe periphery of the capstan 52. Therefore,-the position of the guide pulleys 65 and 66 with respect to that 'of thesheaves56, 57 and 58 is maintained fixed; so that, the strand 11 alwaysengages the capstan 52 near the point of contact between'the capstan 52and the sheave 56.

Assuming, as in my copending application, that the upper ring gear 306is stationary, then the strand 11 is discharged into space by thecapstan 52 at exactly the same rate that the sheaves 56, 57 and 58 (andthus the strand-discharge point) are revolving about the periphery ofthe capstan 52. Hence, according to the principles of that application,the strand 11 will be distributed into the barrel 10 along a descendinghelical path, as illustrated in Fig. 1, having a radius substantiallyequal to the radius of the capstan 52. Centrifugal force will tend toincrease this radius, but a cylindrical, shell-like deflecting member 71having a diameter intermediate between that of the barrel 10 and'thecore 12 serves to direct the strand 11 into the barrel 10 in a coilhaving'a mean radius approximately halfway between that of the core 12and the barrel 10. Thedeflector member 71 is provided with a mountingflange 72 secured to .a plurality of horizontal angle irons -70, whichinturn are seiut e barrel 10 in a continuous succession of coils,build--- ing up within the container to a desired height, at which timethe barrel may be removed from under the distributing apparatus and anempty barrel substituted therefor. Changeover may be accomplishedeasily, automatically, and without interrupting the process by using themetering, accumulating and cutting apparatus disclosed in my copendingapplication.

If the ring gear 3% were stationary, as assumed above, the radii of thestrand coils will be substantially constant and the distribution will bemore-or-less random between the core 12 and the barrel 10. The object ofthis invention is to distribute the strand in coils of varying radii,alternately increasing and decreasing, in order to provide for moreuniform distribution of the strand 11 into the annular collection area.

According to the principles of this invention, distribution of thestrand 11 in coils of varying radii is accomplished by varying the speedat which the strand-discharge point is revolved. This is controlled bythe variable-speed motor 302, which is set to revolve the sheaves 56, 57and 58, as a unit, at alternately increasing and decreasing speeds. Asthe speed of the discharge point is increased, the radius of the strandcoils being formed is successively increased and, conversely, when thespeed of the discharge point is decreased, the radius of the coils beingformed is successively decreased.

If the ring gear 306 were to remain stationary, it can be seen that therate at which the strand 11 is discharged by the capstan 52 would alsobe varied, since the speed of rotation of the capstan 52 (givenparticular gear ratios) is directly dependent on the speed of the motor392, as described both hereinbefore and in my copending application. Thepresent device is so constructed as to vary the rotational speed of thecapstan 52 (and thus the strand-discharge rate) inversely with respectto the speed of revolution of the sheave assembly (and thus that of thestrand-discharge point) in order that the overall coiling rate (by whichis meant the throughput or speed at which the strand 11 is withdrawnfrom a prior process) is maintained constant. The overall coiling rateis made up of the sum of two components: l) the discharge from therotating capstan 52, equal to the rotational speed of the capstan 52times the capstan circumference; and (2) the wrap imparted by therevolving sheave assembly, equal to the revolutional speed of the sheaveassembly times the capstan circumference. The coiling rate is maintainedconstant by increasing the capstan speed above the mean when the sheaveassembly is revolved at speeds below the mean, and vice versa.

These synchronized speeds may be realized by rotating the upper ringgear 306 by means of the second variablespeed motor 311 at speedsvarying according to a predetermined pattern, synchronized with thespeed of the first variable-speed motor 392. Independent rotation of thering gear 3% controls only the rotational speed of the capstan 52 (thestrand-discharge rate) and does not affect the speed of revolution ofthe sheaves 56, 57 and 58 (the strand-wrapping rate), the discharge rateand the wrapping rate being additive to determine the coiling rate.

Referring again to the general plan of operation just described, themotor 302 is driven at alternately decreasing and increasing s eedsduring a predetermined time cycle in order to revolve the sheaves S5, 57and 58, and thus the strand-discharge point, at alternately decreasingand increasing speeds, as depicted in Fig. 3(A), in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 2. This operates to distribute the strand 11in coils having alternately decreasing and increasing radii, as depictedin Fig. 3(B). During the same time interval, the capstan 52 is rotatedat alternately increasing and decreasing speeds, as depicted in Fig.3(C), synchronized so that the absolute sum of the capstan speed andthat of the sheave assembly is constant, so as to maintain a constantcoiling rate, as indicated in Fig. 3(D).

Rotation of the motor 302 at alternately decreasing and increasingspeeds, as described above, also causes rotation of the lower spur gears41-41 on the shafts 40-40 at alternately decreasing and increasingspeeds and revolution of the gears 41--41 about the ring gear 55 atalternately decreasing and increasing speeds, which combined motionswould operate as before described to rotate the capstan 52 atalternately decreasing and increasing speeds if the ring gear 306 werefixed as in my copending application.

However, if the ring gear 306 is rotated at a relatively slow speed in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, such rotation augments therotational speed of the upper spur gears 3535 and thus the rotationalspeed of the lower spur gears 41-41, thus increasing the rotationalspeed of the capstan 52 and the strand-discharge rate.

According to a first pattern of operation, based on the gear ratiosspecified in my copending application (which are designed to provideequal and opposite rotation of the capstan and the sheaves when the gear306 is stationary), the ring gear 306 is rotated at gradually increasingthen decreasing speeds in the clockwise direction, as indicated in Fig.3(E)timcs 1 to t;,, as the motor 302 rotates at gradually decreasingthen increasing speeds below its mean speed. This operates to increasethen decrease the speed of rotation of the capstan 52 above its meanvalue during this portion of the cycle so as to maintain a constantcoiling rate or throughput.

Conversely, if the gear 3% rotates slowly in a counterclockwisedirection, the rotation of the upper spur gears 3535 and thus of thelower spur gears 414-1 and the capstan 52 is retarded; thus, accordingto the first pattern of operation, the ring gear 3% is rotated atgradually increasing then decreasing speeds in the counterclockwisedirection, as depicted in Fig. 3(E)times t;, to L and t to t as themotor 3% rotates at gradually increasing then decreasing speeds aboveits mean speed. This operates to decrease then increase the speed ofretation of the capstan 52 below its mean value during these portions ofthe cycle so as to maintain a constant coiling rate.

According to one specific example illustrated in Fig. 3(A), the variablespeed motor 302 may rotate the shaft 17 so as to revolve the sheaves 55,57 and 58 at 110 rpm. at a time t 100 r.p.m. at a time 2 (the mean),r.p.m. at a time 1 r.p.m. at a time i and r.p.m. at a time L The time t,corresponds to the time t and constitutes the end of one full cycle ofoperation.

Referring now to Fig. 3(E) and utilizing a 4:1 ratio for the upper gearsand a 2:1 ratio for the lower gears, at the time t the ring gear 305 isrotated by the motor 311 at a speed of 10 rpm. in a counterclockwisedirection in order to set the rotational speed of the capstan 52 at avalue 'of 90 r.p.m., as indicated in Fig. 3(C). The strand coiling rateis then 110 r.p.m. 6 ft. circumference=660 ft. per min. (wrap) plus 90r.p.m. 6 ft. :540 ft. per min. (discharge), the desired total of 1200ft. per min. indicated in Fig. 3(D).

The ring gear 306 is rotated by the motor 311 at decreasing speeds inthe counterclockwise direction between the times t and t in order toincrease the capstan speed from 90 rpm. to 100 rpm. at the time 1 atwhich time the rotational speed of the ring gear 306 is zero. At thetime 7 the mean conditions have been reached and the apparatus operatessubstantially as described in my copending application, the sheaveassembly revolving at 100 r.p.rn. in one direction and the capstan 52rotating at 100 rpm. in the opposite direction to wrap the strand at 600ft. per min. and discharge the strand at 600 ft. per min, together ivingthe desired constant coiling rate of 1200 ft. per min.

The ring gear 306 is rotated at increasing speeds in a clockwisedirection between the times t; and t reaching a maximum speed of 10r.p.n1. at the time 1 thus increasing the capstan speed from 100 r.p.m.to 110 r.p.m.

7 at the time t and maintaining the constant coiling rate for the strand11. Between the times t; and t the ring gear 306 is rotated atdecreasing speeds in the clockwise direction reaching zero at the'time 1thus decreasing the rotational speed of 'the capstan 52 from the maximumof 110 r.p.rn. back to the mean speed of 100 rpm. Between the times 2and t the ring gear 306 is rotated at increasing speeds in thecounterclockwise direction reaching a maximum speed of r.p.m. at thetime t in order to decrease the capstan speed from the mean value of 100rpm. back to the minimum of 90 rpm. (as at the time t which co-operateswith the 110 r.p.m. maximum sheave-assembly speed to maintain theconstant coiling rate.

An electromechanical apparatus for directing the operation in accordancewith Figs. 3(A) to 3(E) is depicted in Fig. 4. As there seen, the motor302 may be a variable-speed AC. motor energized from a source 316 andhaving a field designated generally by the numeral 317. The motor 311may be a reversible, adjustable-speed AC. motor energized from a source318 and having a field designated generally by the numeral 319. Thefield 317 for the motor 302 includes a first rheostat 321 regulated toprovide the minimum setting for the motor 302 and a second rheostat 322,which is and 323 so that the wiper arm 327 rotates at double the speedof the wiper arm 323.

The motor 311 may be energized across a pair of conductors 331 and 332to induce rotation of the ring gear 306 in a counterclockwise directionwhen a first contact 3330f a control relay 334 is closed and may also beenergized across the conductor 332 anda conductor 336 (alternative tothe conductor 331) when a second contact 337 of the control relay 334 isclosed. Thercontact 333 is closed between the times t and t the contact337 is closed. between the times t and t and the contact 333 is againclosed between the times t and by means of a timing cam 338 which isrotated by the timing motor 328 at the same speed as the slower wiperarm 323.

The control relay 334 may be energized from a battery 339 when acam-following switch 341 is closed by the cam 338 between the times tand t to close the contact 337 and open the contact 333. During theother half of the cycle, the cam-following switch 341 is open so thatthe relay 334 is de-energized and the contacts 333 and 337 are reversed.Fig. 3(F) illustrates the state of the camoperated switch 341 as afunction of time, corresponding with the operation illustrated in Figs.3(A) to 3(E).

According to second and third patterns of operation, the desired,inversely proportional speeds may be realized by rotating the ring gear306 at varying speeds in one direction only. This is a desirablearrangement, as the motor 311 need only be a variable-speed motor asdistinguished from the reversible, variable-speed motor required underthe first pattern of operation.

According to the second pattern, the ratio between the ring gear 306 andthe spur gears 35-35 is made somewhat less than 4:1 and/or the ratiobetween the ring gear 55 and the spur gears 41-41 is made somewhatgreater than 2:1. These ratios are set so that the speed of rotation ofthe capstan 52, without the effect of rotating the ring gear 306, isequal'to or less than the desired, minimum capstan speed when the motor302 is rotating at its maximum speed. Then, the ring gear 306 is rotatedat varying speeds in a clockwise direction only, to aug- 8 w V ment thecapstan speed by the amount required to maintain the desired, constantcoiling rate. The gear 306 is either stationary (capstanspeed equal tothe desired value at the maximum sheave speed) or is rotated at aminimum speed (capstan speed less than the desired value at the maximumsheave speed) when the motor 302 operates at maximum speed. The gear 306is rotated at gradually increasing speeds as the motor 302 operates atdecreasing speeds so as to provide the desired increasing capstan speed,and the gear 306 is rotated at gradually decreasing speeds as the motor302 operates again at increasing speeds.

A third pattern of operation corresponds to the second, except that theratio of the gear 306 to the gears 34-34 is made somewhat, greater than4:1 and/or theratio between the gear and the gears 41-41 is madesomewhat less than 2:1. According to this pattern, the capstan speed(without the effect of rotating the ring gear 306) is equal to orgreater than the desired speed when the motor 302 is rotating at itsminimum speed. The ring gear 306 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection only, to retard the capstan 52, at increasing speeds when themotor 302 operates at increasing speeds and at decreasing speeds whenthe motor 302 operates at decreasing speeds.

Second embodiment Considering now the second embodiment of theinvention, il lustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, a strand-distributingapparatus is shown which is generally similar to that disclosed in thesecond embodiment of my copending application, Figs. 3 to 5, but whichincludes certain modifications and additional elements allowingoperation in accordance with the principles of this invention. Certainelements common to both this and my copending application have beengiven the same numerals formerly applied, while modified and additionalelements forming a part of this invention only have been. given numeralsstarting with the numeral 401.

The apparatus illustrated in Figs- 5 and 6 is designed to distribute astrand 111 into a barrel'110 having a central core 112,'which may besubstantially the same as the barrel 10 and core 12 illustrated in thefirst embodiment of the invention. The strand 111 advances downa wardthrough a hollow shaft 401, around each of three guide pulleys 130, 131and 132, and then to a grooved capstan 119 which serves to advance thestrand and to distribute the same in a descending helical path into thebarrel 110 for collection in the form of a continuous succession ofcoils.

An endless belt 127 passes about a portion of the periphery of thecapstan 119 and also about portions of i the periphery of three sheaves120, 122 and 123, which are spaced about the capstan 119 in contacttherewith and function to tension the belt 127 and determine the angleof contact (preferably about 180') between the belt 127 and the capstan119.

The capstan 119 and the sheaves 120, 122 and 123 are all mounted forrotation about their own axes to a mounting plate 125, which in turn isrevoluble about the axis of the shaft 401, the axis of the shaft 401being made coincident with the center line of the barrel 110. Themounting plate 125 is secured by a bracket 126 (Fig. 6) to the uppersurface of a horizontal annular disc106, which in turn is mounted in abearing 107 for relative rotation with respect to the shaft 401.

The disc 106 is connected by a plurality of adjustable rods 109-109 to asupporting ring 101, which is formed with a sprocket 102 permittingrotation thereof by a variable speed motor 402 through a gear box 403and a chain 124, the ring 101 being supported for rotation with respectto a stationary sleeve 404 by suitable bearings -105. The shaft 401, thesleeve 404, the motor 402 and the gear box 403 are all supported by afixed platformlocated near the top of the apparatus, the shaft 9 401being rotatably mounted with respect to the table 115 in a suitablebearing 406.

A beveled ring or sun gear 407 is secured near the lower end of theshaft 401 and meshes with a bevel gear 118, which in turn is connec edby a shaft 114 to the capstan 119 to cause rotation thereof foradvancing the strand 111. The shaft 114 is mounted for rotation in apair of bearing members 116-116, which are secured to the plate 106. Inorder to distribute the strand 111 into the barrel 110, the motor 402 isenergized to rotate the supporting ring 101 and the disc 106 connectedthereto so as to revolve the mounting plate 125 and the capstan 119carried thereby about the shaft 401.

Assuming that the disc 106 is rotated in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 6, then the capstan 119 will revolve in a clockwisedirection about the shaft 401 and the bevel gear 118 carried therebywill travel in a clock wise path about the sun gear 407. As the bevelgear 118 travels in a clockwise direction about the sun gear 407, itwill be constrained to rotate about its own axis in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 5, so as to impart counterclockwiserotation to the capstan 119.

The strand 111 is discharged into space by the rotation of the capstan119, but the point where the strand 111 leaves the capstan 119 is causedto revolve about the shaft 401, the axis of the coil to be formed, sincethe capstan 119 is carried by the plate 125, which in turn is secured tothe rotating disc 106. With this arrangement, the strand 111 iscontinuously distributed in a descending helical path into the barrel110 forming a coil therein having a radius proportional to the speed ofrevolution of the discharge point. In this embodiment of the invention,the coiling rate or throughput is determined solely by the speed ofrotation of the capstan 119 (the stranddischarge rate), there being nowrap component since the sheaves 120, 122 and 123 do not revolve aboutthe capstan 119. A cylindrical, shell-like deflecting member 171 ismounted above the barrel 110 and serves to constrain the advancingstrand 111 to fall in the desired descending helical path.

In my copending application, it was stated that the speed of revolutionof the strand-discharge point (the entire capstan-and-sheave unit)should be set equal to the strand-discharge rate and this wasaccomplished by selecting the proper relative sizes for the sun gear 407(which was stationary), the bevel gear 118, and the capstan 110. Inaccordance with the principles of this invention, it is proposed to varythe speed at which the stranddischarge point is revolved (as in thefirst embodiment) in order to distribute the strand in coils havingvarying radii, while maintaining the coiling rate (here the rotationalspeed of the capstan 119) substantially constant.

The variable-speed motor 402 is designed to revolve the capstan 119about the shaft 401 at varying speeds between a predetermined maximumabove the desired strand speed and a predetermined minimum below thedesired strand speed in order to distribute the strand in a successionof coils having alternately increasing and decreasing radii. If the ringgear 407 were stationary, the rotational speed of the capstan 119, andthus the strand-discharge speed and coiling rate, would be directlyproportional to the speed of the motor 402. In order to maintain thestrand speed constant, the sun gear 407 is rotated by a variable speedmotor 408, through a gear box 409 and a sprocketand-chain transmissiondesignated generally by the numeral 410, at speeds synchronized with thespeed of the motor 402 so as to maintain the rotational speed of thecapstan 119 about its own axis substantially constant.

When the capstan 119 is revolving at decreasing speeds below the mean,the rotational speed of the capstan 119 would tend to decreaseaccordingly (if the sun gear 407 were stationary); however, the sun gear407 is rotated at increasing speeds in a counterclockwise direction, as

viewed in Fig. 6, synchronized so as to augment the rotational speedimparted solely by the revolution of the capstan 119 by the amountsrequired to maintain the rotational speed of the capstan 119 and thusthe coiling rate substantially constant. Conversely, when the capstan119 revolves at increasing speeds above the mean, the sun gear 407 isrotated at increasing speeds in a clockwise direction so as to retardthe rotation of the capstan 119 by synchronized amounts required tomaintain the rotational speed constant during this part of the cycle.

The synchronized operation of the motors 402 and 408 may be accomplishedby utilizing the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 4, as describedhereinbefore, to achieve a cycle generally similar to that illustratedin Figs. 3(A) to 3(E). However, if the same six-foot circumferencecapstan were employed, the rotational speed, Fig. 3(C), of the capstan119 would be constant at 200 r.p.m. to give the constant coiling rate of1200 ft. per min., as in Fig. 3(D). The speed of revolution, Fig. 3(A)would then vary between 220 r.p.m. and 180 r.p.m.

As in the first embodiment of this invention, it might be more practicalto alter the gear ratio between the sun gear 407 and the bevel gear 118to allow controlled rotation of the sun gear 407 in one direction only.

It will be manifest that this invention isnot limited to the specificdetails described in connection with the above embodiments of theinvention, but that various modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a strand-feeding device of the type having arotatable capstan, a plurality of sheaves rotatable about their own axesand positioned about the periphery of the capstan, and a belt woundendlessly around the sheaves and holding the strand against a portion ofthe capstan periphery so that the strand is discharged upon rotation ofthe capstan; the improvement which comprises means for causing thechanging portion of the capstan which is last contacted by the strand atany instant to revolve about a vertical axis at variable speeds soregulated that the strand is distributed along a descending helical pathhaving a variableradius for collection in a continuous succession ofcoils having variable radii and having an axis substantially coincidentwith the vertical axis, and means for rotating the capstan at speeds sosynchronized with the speed of revolution of said changing portion ofthe capstan which is last contacted by the strand that the coiling rateis maintained substantially constant.

2. In combination with a strand-feeding device of the type having arotatable capstan, a plurality of sheaves mounted adjacent to theperiphery of the capstan and spaced therearound, and a belt woundendlessly around the sheaves and in contact with the strand on theperipheral surface of the capstan for holding the strand in drivingcontact therewith over an arc on the capstan periphery; the improvementwhich comprises means for revolving the sheaves as a unit around theaxis of the capstan at alternately increasing and decreasing speeds sothat the strand is distributed along a descending helical path having analternately increasing and decreasing radius for collection in acontinuous succession of coils having varying radii, and means forrotating the capstan at variable speeds so synchronized with the speedof revolution of the sheaves that the coiling rate is maintainedsubstantially constant.

3. In combination with a strand-feeding device of the type having afirst ring gear, a rotatable hollow shaft through which the strand ispassed. a first plate attached to the shaft for rotation therewith, afirst plurality of gears rotatably mounted on the first plate anddesigned to mesh with the first ring gear, a second plate spaced fromand secured for rotation with the first plate, a second plurality ofgears rotatably mounted on the second plate and driven by the firstplurality of gears, a second 1'1" 7 ring gear mounted rotatably withrespect to the second plate and designed to mesh with the secondplurality of gears and to be driven thereby, a rotatable capstansestrandin driving contact therewith over the whole of a continuous arcon the periphery thereof; the improvement which comprises a firstvariable-speed motor for rotating the hollow shaft at alternatelyincreasing and decreasing speeds in a particular direction so as torotate the capstan in one direction to discharge the strand and so as torevolve the sheaves and thus the strand-discharge point about the axisof the capstan in the opposite direction at alternately increasing anddecreasing speeds, a second variable-speed motor for rotating the firstring gear at variable speeds, and control means for'synchronizing thetwo motors so that the rotational speed of the capstan varies inverselywith the speed of revolution of the sheaves to maintain a constantcoiling rate.

4. In combination with a strand-feeding device of the type having,apbase, a ring gear mounted to the base, a capstan mounted rotatably'on the base for discharging the strand, and a planetary gear securedfor rotation with the capstanand designedto mesh with the ring gear; theimprovement which comprises variable speed means for revolving thecapstan and the planetary gear secured thereto about the axis of thering gear, whereby the revolution of the planetary gear about the ringgear -induces rotation of the capstan for discharging the strand and therevolution of the capstan causes the strand-discharge point to revolveabout the axis of the ring gear at variable speeds so that the strand isdistributed along a'descending helical path having a varying radius forcollection in the form of a continuous succession of coils havingvarying radii and an axis aligned with that of the ring gear, and meansfor rotating the ring gear at variable speeds so synchronized with thespeed of the capstanrevolving means as to maintain the rotational speedof the capstan substantially constant. 7

5. In combination with a strand-feeding device of the type having ahollow shaft through which the strand is passed, a ring gear secured tothe hollow shaft, a plate mounted for relative rotation with respect tothe hollow shaft, a second shaft mounted rotatably on the plate, aplanetary gearsecured to one end of the second shaft and designed tomesh with the ring gear, a rotatable capstan secured to the other end ofthe second shaft, a plurality of sheaves mounted to the plate forrotation about their axes and adjacent to the periphery of the capstan,a belt wound endlessly around the sheaves and in contact with theperipheral surface of the capstan, andmeans for directing the strandbetween the belt and the'capstan periphery after the strand passesthrough the hollow shaft; the improvement which comprises a firstvariable-speed motor for revolving the plate and the elements carriedthereby about the axis of the hollow shaft at alternately increasing anddecreasing speeds, whereby the planetary gear revolves about the ringgear to induce rotation of the capstan on the second shaft fordischarging the strand and the strand-discharge point'revolves about theaxis of the ring gear at alternatelyincreasing and decreasing speeds, asecond variable-speed motor for rotating the hollow shaft and the ringgearsecured thereto at variable speeds, and means for synchronizing thetwo motors so as to maintain the rotational speed of the capstansubstantially constant,

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,995,498 Dempsey et al. Mar. 26, 1935 2,849,195 Richardson et al. Aug.26, 1958' 2,857,116 Kraflft et a1. Oct. 21, 1958

